Background

Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on 2 May 2008, causing widespread destruction and devastation in Yangon and the Ayeyarwaddy Delta region. The cyclone left 138,000 people dead or missing and 2.4 million people were severely affected by the disaster. Over 4,000 schools were either damaged or completely destroyed.

World Vision's response

World Vision was able to launch a response within 24 hours of the cyclone. Relying on local supplies, World Vision first focused on the hardest hit areas of Yangon, and then turned its attention to the Ayeyarwaddy Delta. An international team of relief experts joined the response effort within weeks to support our local staff.

During World Vision’s 8 month emergency response phase almost 347,000 people were provided with essential relief supplies and support including:

• Food Aid - to more than 314,000 people
• Shelter kits and tarpaulins to 56,793 households 
• Blankets to 50,307 households
• Clothing to 46,013 families
• Cooking sets to 32,334 households
• Mosquito nets to 53,315 households
• Water containers to over 63,000 families
• 62 rain water collection tanks constructed
• Hygiene and sanitation supplies to 20,225 households
• Hygiene and sanitation training for 27,814 people
• 108 Child Friendly Spaces were established and have provided more than 20,000 children with a safe and supervised place to play, learn, share their experiences and regain a sense of normalcy.
• School kits supplied to more than 15,000 children
• 875 adolescents received non-formal education

World Vision has also helped more than 4,000 farmers return to work by providing tools and gardening seeds to assist with the next harvest. The provision of fishing nets and 247 boats has helped 727 fisherfolk return to work.

World Vision provided 17 life-saving water purification machines to the Delta, some with the capacity to purify up to 10,000 litres of safe drinking water a day. World Vision also provided tools to enable communities to clean 313 water drinking ponds and wells in the Delta, removing contaminated water.

Medicines were distributed across Yangon and the Delta; health structures have been renovated and repaired; and four new health centres are under construction. Basic healthcare education has been provided to communities covering topics such as prevention of diarrhoea, safe drinking water, and sanitary latrines.

Read World Vision's report Building Hope and Security - Cyclone Nargis 2 Years On here.

Funds raised

Thanks to the generous support of Australians, World Vision Australia raised over $5.4 million for the disaster response. The funds have enabled World Vision teams to provide emergency assistance in the wake of the disaster and will assist with long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.

Ongoing activities

Recovery from Cyclone Nargis requires a long-term holistic approach. Two years on, World Vision’s response is focusing on empowering more than 100,000 people living in 143 villages in Bogale, Hainggyi and Pyapon by building their capacity to sustain and maintain the wellbeing and protection of children.

In 2010, the Cyclone Nargis response is entering a 2 year transition programme from Recovery and Rehabilitation into preparing for 2 long term development programmes in Bogale and Pyapon.